How to Avoid Common Air Duct Cleaning Scams

By
Fresh Aire Duct Cleaning
|September 01, 2016

Have you been approached with a flier that offers to clean your entire
air duct cleaning for $99? This sounds like an amazing deal, especially
if you own a large home. But like most homeowners, you likely don’t
know what the real value of air duct cleaning is. If you did get a flier
promising low rates for residential air duct cleaning, then it is very
likely a scam.

Here’s how you can tell.

The Difference Between Scams and the Real Deal

The first warning sign that you’re about to be scammed by an air
duct cleaning company is that you’re being offered an upfront flat
rate. A reputable residential or commercial duct cleaning company will
provide an estimate based on the size of your home. It doesn’t really
make sense for a professional to charge the same rate for a tiny home
as it does a mansion.

Extremely low rates are enticing, especially during a shaky economy. However,
you don’t want to fall for this trap only to end up with a mediocre
service. A lot of property owners that fall for the air duct cleaning
scam end up with poor workmanship or incomplete work. In some cases, they’re
even billed for additional fees they didn’t agree to.

There have been instances where scammers will inspect your air ducts only
to claim to find a host of problems that may or may not exist. And that
it needs immediate attention. One popular problem that’s thrown
around during these inspections is mold growth. We all know how dangerous
mold can be, so we don’t second guess the immediacy of the problem.
The scammer may state that they have to remove and replace your entire
system, quickly racking up the cost for labor and parts.

The scammers may also state that your air ducts are dirtier or bigger than
expected. Then to appear legit, they oftentimes use imaging equipment
to record the inspection and show to customers. They include a before
and after video that may or may not even be your vents.

Protecting Yourself from Air Duct Cleaning Scams

The best way to safeguard yourself from these type of scams is to educate
yourself. Do your due diligence to determine if the professional in question
is indeed a professional. Check out the business online – you can
find out a lot by using Google. See if thee are any reviews posted from
past recent customers. Angie’s List is a great resource for finding
and identifying reputable businesses and scam artists.

You should also check the Better Business Bureau or Home Advisor to see
if there are any complaints against the business you’re considering.
You can also check to see if they’re a member of the National Air
Duct Cleaning Association, or NADCA. Any pricing guarantee you receive
should be obtained in writing – and make sure to read the fine print
of your contract.

The following are warning signs of air duct scam artists:

Their ads offer one price, then when they arrive, it’s a much higher
rate. This is known as the bait and switch. They use this tactic to get
their foot in the door.

Only one person shows up for the job. Normally, air duct cleaning crews
consist of two to three people. It is more likely that that individual
will perform a mediocre job and may only clean a portion of your vents.

The time frame is super fast. If the technician says your entire home’s
air duct system can be cleaned in one hour, then watch out. Most reputable
companies will tell you that it takes between three and five hours, sometimes more.

They won’t give you a written quote. Shady businesses only give you
a quote over the phone and in person, without anything written down. This
is too easy to switch up later on, so make sure that you have everything
down in writing. The contract should also detail what services are to
be performed for that price.

Charging outrageous rates for simple services. Some scammers will try to
rip you off by charging hundreds of dollars to sanitize your air ducts,
when most only charge $50.

Make sure the professional you hire for trash chute cleaning and dryer
vent cleaning is reputable. Use these tips to steer clear of scam artists!